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ANNEXATION OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 



SPEECH 



HON. HORACE B. PAOKEE, 



OK PKXX^VI.V.VXI.V, 



nousp: OF repkesextatlves, 



J u isrii; 1 a , 1 8 o 8 . 



W -<VSM I JSTG TO N". 

1808. 






SPEEOU 



c/' II ()\. li. B. TACKER 



4 



Tlio HoHso ImviiiR unilf-r considoration the joint resolution (H. Res. S5'J) to 
provide for auiiexing the Huwuiiuu Isliiuds to the United States — 

S* Mr. PACKER of Pennsylvania said: 

Mr. 8rr..vKi;K: The iiroposition now under consideration is one 
of the utmost importance to the country, .Since the question was 
presented to us in such an attractive form, and the Crovernment 
and people of the Hawaiian Islands soui^dit admission into the 
Union under the Administration of General Harrison, I have taken 
a lively interest in it and have been an ardent friend of the cause 
of annexation. As 1 have carefully noted the progress of the war 
and observed each day the developments in the Orient, my interest 
in the subject has intensified and the reasons for annexation of 
this group of islands have increased, or at least become more ap- 
parent to nie. "While our attention has been particularly drawn 
to this (luestion di;ring the ])ast five or six years, it is by no means 
a novel one to our jicople, the inhabitants of Hawaii, or the citi- 
zens of other p^reat jtowcrs. 

DnriuK the past century tlie people of these islands have had a 
stormy time. They have been seized twice by France and by 
Great Britain. These re.><pective governments have released them 
only tipon diplomatic pressure from other powers. In is")4 nego- 
tiations were Ijad between the United States and the King i)ro- 
viding for a troaty of annexation, but before they were consum- 
mated the King died. We are all familiar with the progress of 
the troaty in \S'X). While the treaty was pending in the Senate a 
< hange of Administration took jdace and President Cleveland with- 
drew it. The conduct of foreign alTairs under his Admiinstration, 
BO farasthesam'rehited to the Hawaiian Islands, was nidstunsat- 
isfact'Ty to the American jjcojile. A treaty of annexation similar 
to the joint rts'ilution now pending w.is agretd to by the Ua- 
waiiati (toveriuufnt and ratifu d by the Senate. 

The |)o-ition a-suujed by a majority of our Presidents and many 
of our leading statesmen since ISJJ in reference to these islands is 
well known. In .Tune, IH.'il, Daniel Webster, then Secretary of 
State, ndtln-sseil the American minister at Paris instructing him 
to advi»e the Frf-nch ( Joveinmiiit that the enforcement of the 
French dtjf :■■■■!- liiisl Hawaii — 

wniil'l Im.' ta! ih<' KulijuKation of tlie iHtamlH to the dominion of 

Fr;ui<-i' A • ■ •nilil imt full to Jk? viowod liy the Government and 

|nv,iil<- of tli>' -^ Willi II liisHntisfiu-lion whii-li wonld tend si-riously 

to chi^turli i-\. . ..-iHlly ri'liili<ini with thi> Fr«'iich tJuvi-rnnient. 

In a corn , . . ■■ witli Unit4Ml States Minister Severance at 
Ilnndlulu a lew weeks l.nter the same distinguiKhcd premier said: 

Tl..- II..A.i;: .;, I ! >•:■! :.!.■ t. II tin..--. i.....r.r I- tin- fnit.'d Stnton than to 
i\- ' 'ininii>rii.il intiTcourM' 

I •^•••tlKT with others of 

» ■ ■ li tho liovornnu'nt of 

Ih'- liiit'- 1 ,^:(it. •, « lii liUP' uv 111 r'>:;(r'l t" Hi' iii 

At thi.t time tlie French were »c) threatening and persistent in 



their doinaiuls. and the situation l)oin.LC roi>ro.sciitc(l in iioi.sun \>y 
onr consul to .Socrotiuy Wolisti-r, he repliotl: 

I ti-nst tlio Froiicli will not takf» i>os.sos.sii>ii; but if t)i*>>- iId, tlwy will )>a 
(ii.s!(>(lL;ciJ, 11' my udvico is tiikou, if tho whole power of the Uovcrninciit is ro- 
liuireu to do it. 

It is interestinj; to note tho attitude of Sorrotary Seward in ref- 
erence to the (jucstions of reciprocity and annexation aiultlio 
policy this great diplomat considered the most advaiita^eoiH. In 
a dispatch to United States Minister McCook, at Honolulu, of 
September 10. Ib07, he says, inter aha: 

Yon will 1)0 govcrneil in all your iirocecilinj^s by a nroper respect nml 
coiu'tesy to the Oov(>ruuicnt miil people of tlio Saiulwicli Inlaiuls; but it is 
l)roper that yoti should know, for your own intoriuation, tliat a lawful and 
peaceful uuiu'xatiou of the islands to the United States, with the (■onsi'ul of 
the pi>oj)l.> of tho Sandwicli Islands, is deemed desirable by this (lovernmi-nt: 
and that if the policy of annexation should really conllict with tho policy of 
reciprocity, annexation is iu every c;uso to be preferred. 

The American people are indebted to tho sagacity and wisdom 
of Mr. Seward tor our extensive and valuable possessions in tho 
Northern Pacific and arctic regions, which have in many ways been 
.such a source of revenue, and will without doubt continue to bo 
for a long period of time. His marvelous conception of our future 
as connected with tho Pacific Ocean is now realized and appre- 
ciated as at no time heretofore. Secretary Fish, in corresponilence 
with tho American minister at Honolulu, in March, lb~'3, said: 

There are also those of influence and wise foresight who see a future that 
must extend the jurisdictions and limits of this nation, and that will i-equira 
a restintr spot iu midocean between the Pacific coast and the vast domains o( 
Asia, whicli are now opening to commorco and Christian civilization. 

^: Mr. Blaine in 1881 considered "the Hawaiian Islands as the key 
"Sto the dominion of the American Pacific."' He regarded the 
islands as "an oiitlying district of the State of California,'' and 
"was a friend of annexation. He said: 

The Governmont of the United States * * -^ has always avowed and 
7io\v repeats that under no circumstances will it permit tho transfer of tho 
territory or .sovereignty of thosoislands toauy of the great Euroi)ean powers. 

At that time the Government of Japan had not become one of 
the great powers nor an important factor to be considered in the 
Northern Pacific. 

i have, for obvious reasons, presented at some length the views 
of several of our foremost statesmen upon this absorbing ques- 
tion. It has been undeniably the policy of our Government to 
prevent the absorption of these islands by any other power and 
tiieir ultimate annexation. The time seems to be opportune for 
their admission to the Union. Will the proposed annexation be 
advantageous to us? The Government and pooi)le of Hawaii are 
now anxious for such admis.sion, and are patiently awaiting the 
response of the American Congress to tlieir appeal. 

Persons familiar with the history of tlieso people, their location, 
business, and {'omincrrial relations, language, education, religion, 
and characteri.stics, can readily see whj- they desire to relin([ui.sh 
their lu'esent governmental relations for membership in a stronger 
government, affording a more perfect union and greater security 
of person and \)roperty. If we refuse to annex these islands, wo 
can not well occupy tlie illogical pa.sition of jirotestingas hereto- 
fore to their being annexed to another power, if it is the desire of 
the people of the islands to be so annoxed. We can not with 
justice say: "We will not take you. nor will we permit another 
power to annex or dominate you." The advantages of annexation 
are in myjudgment reciprocal. 

I will briefly consider some of the adv.intagrs likely to acme 



to the rnited States by reason of the establishment of this new 
rehinonship. An indejiendeut. weak jioveinnient is in constant 
dntiKfi" from stronger ones. The history ol the Hawaiian Iskmds 
lUirinu' the hist cii^hty years is proof of this assertion. The popu- 
lation is mixtd. and comprises about 109, UUO i)eoplc— 2 1.407 Japan- 
ese and ',M .((K) Chinese, Loss than one-half the entire population 
are Asiatic. This element would bo considerably reduced alter 
annexation. As a result of the chanj?ed conditions, many citizens 
of all classes would go from the United States to the newly 
ac(iuu-id territory. 

American business men and laborers would resort to the islands 
with the same enthusiasm as has marked their progress and suc- 
cess in other fields of activity. The resolutions forbid further 
Chinese immigration, and, as 1 understand them, they forbid those 
now in liawan from going to other parts of the United States. 
The Hawaiian laws exclude them from homestead rights, and the 
exi>erience there as here is, as soon as they get a lew hundred 
dollars, their longing for home takes them back. 

The Portuguese constitute 15,191, and of these 7,000 are natives 
and speak the English language. The British population com- 
lu-ises 2.2.j0, the Germans 1,432, and other Europeans about 1,000. 
There are ;i;3,000 of the native Hawaiian race. There are less men 
of the native race than of the Japanese. The Japanese Govern- 
ment is demanding that her people shall have the same rights and 
privilecres that all others have there, which includes votmg and 
holding office. If annexation to the United States is rejected, the 
probabilitv is this demand \nl\ be pressed with renewed energy 
by the Government, witli prospect of success. With the right of 
Kiifirage secured, many thousand more Japanese would invade the 
islands, claim the right to vote and hold office, and thus gain tho 
Bupremacv. 

The Anierican colony exceeds 3,000 souls, and they own three- 
fourths of the property and control the business of the islands. 
Tiiev liave encouraged and built up the commercial trade in 
the "interests of the United States. " The American trade ^^^th 
these islands last year amounted to over $18,000,000. We have 
the greater part of the shipping business. Two hundred and forty- 
seven of our ships were emi»loyed in the Hawaiian trade in 1S9G. 
Much of this trade has been promoted by the reciprocity treaty 
bftween the two countries. If this treaty were abrogated by a 
partv in power adverse to American interests, the business would 
largely decreas'" and disappear. The territory once a part of us, 
all danger from this source will bo forever removeil. In this 
f'vent the whole trade would come to our country and be greatly 
enhanci'd from year to year, and all foreign complications that have 
unhappily harassed the people and hampered the development of 
the islands would be overcome. The value and importance of this 
trade to our people, and especially to that portion of them that 
reside on tin; Pacific coast, is incaUtilablo. 

The Hawaiians are tho best customers thoy have— the largest 
consumers of their various products of any one country in the 
Pacilic. Reference to a table of the commerce of San Francisco 
wdl surprisingly illustrate this statement. Under our present 
rccijjrocity laws we give a fr.e nnirket for practically only rice, 
Kiigar, and bananas. With tlie excejjtion of these t'lree products 
eiiiiniL-rateil, the groat resources of these fertile islands are unde- 
velopi d. Tin- moment these islands are merged in tho Republic, 
a free market for all jtroducts will ensue. In lM9tl she had a for- 
eign trade of over ^•i{)i< per capita for every lulult and child of tho 



country— a trade iinsiirpnsse*!. ThousamlH of acres of this pro- 
ductivt) land, foi nierlj' a harn-n wast**, have boi-n reieutly broui^lit 
under cultivation by artilirial irrij,'at!o i. Tlx'se islands can easily 
1)6 madf to support a population ten tinn-s j;reater than tln-y now 
Lave. With an increase of population proportionate to tiio Wist 
Indies, the connncn^e of the icnmtry would speedily become <d the 
lirst importance. It is diflicult \o estimate tlio enormous trado 
relations that will result under the l)eni.L:n and stimulaiin;^ influ- 
ences of Rood government, rich soil, tropical yet moderate cli- 
mate, and free markets. 

Serious objections have been lU'gcd a.nainst annexation on ac- 
couTit of the ethnic character of the 1)PO]i1p. I have indicated tho 
numbers of the various races inhabitin:^ the country. The native 
Ilawaiians are I'olyncsians, not Africans. They enjoj- tho same 
political, social, and religious liberty and eijuality as the white 
people. They readily assimilate with and take on American ways 
and manners. Many of them are suiiporlers of tho Republic and 
advocates of annexation. A majority of the ])resent Honse of 
Representatives consists of full blood native Ilawaiians. The 
speaker of the House is a native. 

TheChinese and Japanese are industrious and peaceable citizens, 
and as they are not permitted to enter into political matters or con- 
trol, no danger can come to this country from so small a number. 
As heretofore stated, the matter of future immigration is guarded 
against. They are now aliens in Hawaii and not eligible to become 
citizens. Annexation will not enlarge then- civil rights. The 
Portuguese are a large contingent of the population. About one- 
half of them are native and educated in the public schools, where 
the English language is taught. They are an industrious and 
quiet people, and are said to constitiate the better laboring element 
there. The Americans, English, and Germans are a strong, vig- 
orous, and potential element. They have impressed themselves, 
their forms of government, lav/s, customs, and manners, upon the 
larger population. They have acquired ownershi]) over most of 
the" property and control the bulk of the business transacted iu 
the islands. If they have accomplished so much under the un- 
favorable monarchical government, it is not unreasonable to expect 
greater things under a republican form of goveriunent. 

In contemplating the history of annexation of territory in the 
United States, from the Louisiana imrchaso to the ]>resent, we 
have never had a larger contingent of Anglo-Saxons thaii live in 
Hawaii. When Florida was annexed she had a population of a 
few Spaniards and Indians. Texas at one time had a population 
solely of Mexicans, Spaniards, and Indians. In ten years from 
the date of annexation, I venture tho prediction that the foreign 
element in Hawaii will not be any more noticeable nor objection- 
able than the same element in many of the States of the Union is 
at this time. 

It is a pleasing subject, and one in which our friends upon the 
other side of the Chamber often indulj^e. The danger con.se- 
quent upon a mixture of the races and blending of foreign cus- 
toms and habits is more fancied than real. The stronger races 
always have and always will dominate the weaker. This doctrine 
has never been more "forcibly illu-trated than in the recent his- 
tory of the people of these islands. A handful of heroic Ameri- 
cans have overthrown the monarchy, grown hoary with age, and 
established upon its ruins a Republic fashioned after our own, 
with a constitution that gives the subjects tlio utmost freedom 
consistent with adequate protection. 
343a 



Thcv tnjov legislative, executive, ami .imlit-ial deiiarlmoits of 
Kovermnent" along the lines KUiirautcod bj' the AuKrifaii Consti- 
tution. Many of tbeir statutes aiv copies of thoso enacted in the 
United States, and legal documents are niodok-d after our own. 
Most of the lawyers and judges are either from the United States 
or educated there. The public-school system is largely a tran- 
script from that of the States of the Union. There are is? schools, 
taught bv rjfi teachers, and containing I'^.COO pupils, all taught in 
tht'Englfsh language. ' A majority of the teachers are Americans. 
The English language is the one that obtains in the schools, courts, 
and business circles. 

The money of the United States is the current money there, and 
all bonds, notes, and mortgages are made payable in United States 
money. There are no paupers or tramps in the islands, and no 
poorlioa«es are required. The American holidays are enthusias- 
tically observed as here. Have any of our people residing in terri- 
tories" heretofore annexed had such a training and preparation for 
American citizenship as have the people of Hawaii'.' She is not 
wanted as a State, to swell the membership in the upper House of 
Congress. She does not ask it. nor do we concede it. The treaty 
pro^•ides that she shall come in as a Territory, and her govern- 
ment will be left entirely in the hands of Congre.«s. 

It has been erroneously urged by opponents of annexation that 
annexation will be ruinous to the beet-sugar culture of the United 
States. Let us examine into this favorite argument and ascertain 
the true situation. If the Hawaiian product can be produced in 
.such large (luantities so as to displace the American beet product, 
or by re«luc-ing the price and lowering it to the producers, and 
thus" make the cultivation of it unprofitable, then there maybe 
gome force in their argument. 

The sugar territory of these islands has been increased until 
there are no lands remaining except a limited amount of barren 
lands that can onlv be utilized by expensive artificial irrigation. 
Hawaii can never" produce sugar enough to supplant the beet- 
sngar culture or any other sugar' culture in the United States. 
During the year ls!l"« she produced a little over 200,000 tons, or 
about one-tenth of the consumption of the United States. This is 
the largest output after years of successful production. 

Sugar is a world's product, and the price is determined by tho 
^V(.rld■s i.rice. which is fixed in London and New York. A con- 
siderable iiortion of this product is sent to New York. If the sugar 
product of Hawaii were doubled, the world's sunily would be so 
imptTccptibly increased that the price would not be ail'ected. A 
total failiuv of the crop would not change the price fixed as above 
.•stated. The difi't-rence in expense of growing cane sugar in Hawaii 
and beet sugar in the United States is decidedly in favor of the 
latter. Tho time reiinired for growing a crop of tho former is 
more than twice as long as that of tho latter. 

There can be.howcver.no rca.son why tlie interests of the can(t 
jjrower and lieet grower should clash. " There is an an;pie market 
at go<id i.rices for all. It ha'^ been urge;! that annexation will 
increa.se our foreign complications. No foreign ])ower except 
.lapan lias protested against it. and her r)bjectioii3 have been sub- 
stantially overcome. Most of our leading statesmen for the past 
fifty years. as shown by liberal (inotatmns made from their utter- 
ances upon tills subject", havecmpliasi/.ed the importance of juMjuir- 
ing thex' ihlunds. and they agree that at some time we must nnno.\ 

tlleni. 11 

When willalim-ciime when wei;m nccoinplisli the long-desired 

JIT) 



result with so little cxpoiiso nml friction? Tlio interests of Japan 
and tho other areiit iiowers in tlio I'acilic willfontiiuio to incn-ase, 
anil their hostility to annexation may l)o aroused at any time. 
There is danj^er in delay. Ihit if iniinediato action is taken little 
apprehension is to ho teltfn.iu forei.;<n complications. A weak, 
isolated country is a continuim,' temptation to powerful nations. 
Once an into,<,'ral part of the United States, tho temptation is re- 
moved and the danger gone. 

1 proceed now to a discussion of what is regarded as tho most 
important (luestion— the necessity of annexation from a stratej^ic 
standpoint. The proximity to the Pacific coast is such that our 
Government has at all timts protested aj,'ainst occupation by 
other powers. Honolulu, the capit^il of the.se islands, is located 
in a southwesterly tlirection from San Francisco, a distance of 
about '^,100 miles. It is the principal town and port in this group 
of eight islands. The annexation of the islands is in accord with 
tho Monroe doctrine, which excludes European powers from in- 
terfering in the American continent a?id outlying islands, but 
does not limit or abridge the United States. 

The possession of Hawaii is necessary to the protection of the 
Pacific States. No nation, European or Asiatic, excepting Great 
Britain, possesses a coaling station near enough to tho Pacific coast 
to Le advantageous as a base of hostile naval operations against 
the coast or its commerce. The President and Congress would be 
grossly derelict in duty if they permitted a foreign power to seize 
these islands or establish a protectorate over them. Such occu- 
pancy would be, from a commercial standpoint, most injurious to 
our intei-ests and result in the loss of trade established after so 
many j'oars of patient labor and foresight. 

The testimony given by General SchoMeld and Admiral Walker 
before the Committee on Foreign Affairs last May clearly and 
conclusively demonstrates the great importance of Pearl Harbor 
and Honolulu as bases of naval and military operations. Speak- 
ing of Pearl Harbor, General Schotield says: 

Its natural adaptability to naval purposes is perhaps not snriiassod by any 
harbor in the world in rcfrard to its secure anchoraj^'e for lar^'o Heets, its dis- 
tance from the sea, beyond tho reach of puns of war shii)s, and the great ease 
with which tho entrance to tho harbor could be defended by batteries so as 
to make it a jierfectly safe refuge for merchant sliippiufr or naval crnisei-s, 
or even a fleet that niight find it necessary to take refuge there: for coaling 
grounds, for navy yard repair shops, storehouses, and everything of that 
kind. 

He further says: 

The most important feature of nil is that it economizes tho naval force 
rather than increases it. It is capable of absolute defense by shore batteries. 
so that a naval tleot, after going there and rei)lenishing"its supplies and 
making wliat repairs are needed, can go away and leave the harlx»r i>crfectly 
safe under the protection of the Army. 

Under the treaty with Hawaii the United States enjoys certain 
rights and privileges in this harbor— the right to hold" and use, 
fortify and improve — but thus far has not to any extent exercised 
the rights conceded. The land for miles about "the harbor should 
be owned by the Government before any largo expenditure of 
money would be justified in dredging the channels and fortifying 
the approaches. The right to annul this reciprocity treaty is re- 
served by either party thereto giving the other one" year's notice 
of intention so to do. So it is eviiient under provision of thi.s 
treaty the Government of the United States has not deemed it 
wise to open and improve the harbor. 

The control of these islands and this superb natural harlrir will 
3133 



LlbKMK>f Uh t-UNIjKttiti 



013 717 908 8 ^ 



insure the lev to the Nurtli Pacific Ocoan. These ishnids aio on 
Iho route iioin tlio prouiiiuut ]iorts of the Paciiic States to the 
ijui)ortaut cities of Asia, many of the islands of the Pacific, and 
Australasia. The connnerce of the Pacific is in its iufancy. It is 
the {,Teat theater for future commercial expansion and develop- 
ment of trade relations between the Old and New worlds. In 
18.jl Admiral Dupout made report to the Navy Department "upon 
the condition and requirements of the coast defenses of the United 
States.'' He said: 

It is impossible to estimate too liiBbly the value and importance of tho 
Samlwiih Islands, wLotlier in iv oomniercial or military point of view. 
Should oiriuuistancos over place them in our hands they would provo the 
most ir.i])t'rtant acquisition we fould make in tho whole Paritic. Ocean— an 
.-♦cciuisition intimately connected with our commercial and naval supremacy 
in tiiesc seas. 

This distin£?uished officer of our Navy is prophetic in the Ian- 
f;uat,'e used concerning: these islands, our trade relations with 
them, and our naval supremacy in the waters of the Orient. It 
would seem that nature established this archipelago by some 
^reat upheaval, and that they have been reserved as an outpost 
in the Pacific to guide and sustain our naval ships of v.av and 
transports on the mission of help and succor to our gallant men 
that BO heroicallv upheld our "naval supremacy in these seas," 
and as a result of' their valor subdued and acquired the Philippine 
Islands, and present them as a ransom for the life and treasure 
expended in proseciating the wai\ 

A strange coincidence secures to the great Republic these twin 
pearls of tho Paciiic. The one the happening and culmination 
of events covering a period of fifty years. The other the result of 
a glorious victory of our Navy, consuming but n few hours, in a 
v.-ar prosecuted for humanity's sake, with no thought of conquest 
or extension of territory. It is proverbial that the accidents of 
war are manifold. Our" recent experience in the waters of the 
Orient is a striking illustration of this adage. The disability or 
de.struction of the enemy's navy in the remote harbor of Manila 
was deemed an cssentialincident in the progress of tho \var. 

The task assigned our gallant commander was so brilliantly 
conceived and i)romptly executed that one morning, a few weeks 
Hince, the American people awakened to a realization of tho fact 
that our incomparable Navy bad fought the most signal naval 
battle in the history of the world. As the unexpected resiilt of 
this gr.at victory, a group of the richest islands in the Pacific, and 
without doubt the most productive in all the seas, has fallen 
into the possession of the United States, like ripened Irnit from 
an overburdened tree. Now that our heroic men have braved the 
terrors of mines, shot and shell, and accomplished such a victory. 
are wo who remain at home in easo and comfort to be indifferent 
to their sacrifice s and great results? 

Tiiu fulfillment of the destiny of this great Republic comi.re- 
liends a policy of territorial and commercial expansion. An un- 
exampled ojiportunity is presented for advancement along these 
lines, recognized and i)ursued by the great nations of the earth. 
If wo are to \mSt bv tlieir experience, wo will not hesitate to pa.^s 
these re«f)lutions. if the Philipi.ines are to be r.'tained as com- 
jKiisatory damages for loss of lile and treasiu-e in tho juesent war, 
then Hawaii as a jiort of call is indispensabl<> to tho Oovernmcnt 
tiiat is to own ami control the formi'r. [.Applause.] 



